7-Eleven: 84-year old Texan is retail's king

7-Eleven has become the leader of convenience store retailing with 40,000 locations worldwide and an array of new products.

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Just a store on an ice dock

From humble beginnings dating back to 1927 in Oak Cliff, Texas, 7-Eleven was just a simple store called Southland Ice Co., that sold milk, eggs, bread and ice. Today, the chain of convenience stores is a retail powerhouse with 40,000 stores.

Parija Kavilanz, senior writer

NEXT: Meat, Food, Ice Cream, Milk

Last updated February 25 2011: 4:51 PM ET

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